Home Insurance in Durham County, North Carolina
With a median home value of $389,400, Durham County is 35% higher than the North Carolina median.
Because older housing stock often has aging wiring, roofing or plumbing, it can cost more to insure or rebuild. The typical home in Durham County was built around 1993. About 14% of homes were built before 1960, in line with North Carolina (14%).
In Durham County, the housing stock is 64% single-family homes, 28% apartments in buildings with 5+ units and 1% mobile or manufactured homes.
About 69% of owner-occupied homes in Durham County have a mortgage. Lenders require hazard (homeowners) insurance on any home carrying a mortgage.
Durham County has an owner-occupancy rate of 55% and a vacancy rate of 7%; unoccupied homes typically need a different coverage form.
Most homes in Durham County - 59% - are primarily heated with electricity.
Per FEMA's National Risk Index, Durham County's top hazards are tornado (Relatively High), inland flooding (Relatively Moderate) and hurricane (Relatively Moderate).
As of September 2026, Durham County has 1,319 active NFIP flood insurance policies. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, so flood coverage needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy.
The statewide average premium for a standard HO-3 homeowners policy in North Carolina is $1,852 per year, according to the NAIC homeowners insurance report (2023 data).
Key figures
| Median home value | $389,400 |
|---|---|
| Median year built | 1993 |
| Owner-occupied share | 55% |
| Share of owner-occupied homes with a mortgage | 69% |
| Top hazards (FEMA National Risk Index) | Tornado (Relatively High), Inland Flooding (Relatively Moderate), Hurricane (Relatively Moderate) |
| Active NFIP flood policies (county) | 1,319 |
| Home insurance premium | $1,852 - statewide average (NAIC, 2023 data) |
Towns and cities
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer Files (2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates (2024)
- FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025)
- FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Policies v3 (2026)
- NAIC Dwelling Fire, Homeowners Owner-Occupied, and Homeowners Tenant and Condominium/Cooperative Unit Owners Insurance: Data for 2023 (published 2026) (2023)